Basic 100 line: MB38 – ’57 GMC Pickup, MB63 – Ice Cream Van

Walmart special colors: MB38 – ’57 GMC Pickup in white, MB53 – ’78 Dodge Monaco Police in gold

Lesney Edition (Superfast): Nothing new to report this month.

* – Please note that this list was compiled based on information gathered by collectors from online research and personal finds at retail locations. The ability to find select pieces will vary based on geographic location and the frequency that your local retailer refreshes their stock.

The "In the Stores" column is brought to you courtesy of the Connecticut Valley Diecast Club

Batch D – Basic releases
MB38/38/38 1957 GMC Stepside – baby blue

Click any image to see the larger version

* – Please note that this list was compiled based on information gathered by collectors from online research and personal finds at retail locations. The ability to find select pieces will vary based on geographic location and the frequency that your local retailer refreshes their stock.

The "In the Stores" column is brought to you courtesy of the Connecticut Valley Diecast Club

In recent years I’ve noticed something interesting happening to me every time I attend a die-cast show or convention; I am approached by a fellow collectors [whether I know actually know them or they are brought over to me by a friend] to either take me over to a vendor’s table or room to get my opinion on an impending sale, to show me a just purchased treasure to get my opinion on the condition or price paid, or to ask a question about products from any of the many 1:64 scale manufacturers of die-cast. I have been frequently told that I was the deciding factor either for or against a particular purchase. I am not trying to “toot my own horn” or boast about what I do or do not know about die-cast, but it always gets me thinking about how and what I collect now as opposed to when I began collecting and throughout the interim years.

It has been almost 26 years since I began collecting die-cast and over 19 years since I truly caught the die-cast collecting “bug” and met my first Hot Wheels collecting comrade, my great friend Bill, who was and is my mentor of all things Hot Wheels. So I guess I have seen a lot of collectors, trends, and die-cast companies come and go, wither and resurrect, or completely change themselves altogether. I have always been a history buff; whether it’s the real life history of the world around us or the history of the cars I love to collect. I love to absorb this knowledge as much as I can, but find myself having to omit a lot of information for lack of brain space or for want on that knowledge.

I can’t be a variation almanac like so many of today’s collectors are [God bless your memories] with all the wheels changes, window colors changes, body color changes chassis color/material changes and point of origin as I would like to be.

I don’t seek out variations for my collection unless they are physically pointed out to me while standing at the rack or at a show, and I can’t rattle off things like “the Muscle Madness ’68 Nova comes in all small wheels, all big wheels, and large front wheels/small rear wheels” or vice versa. But, I can pretty much rattle off every ’57 Chevy variation since 1977 or what each Dream Halloween or Toy Fair car has been or how much I did or didn’t pay for a particular car.

I’ve come through a succession of models that I’ve focused all of my attention on as well. First, it was old and new Matchbox. Then I added old and new Hot Wheels and new Johnny Lightnings when they were reintroduced in the 1990’s. All the while I kept up with new and old Majorette and Tomica models thrown in for good measure. It all became maddening! Yet, I would still buy any model, old or new, from any manufacturer that caught my eye. I was a full “completist” and had to have every model I could afford from those aforementioned manufacturers. During that time I was able to keep every model I had in my head as well as on ancient Apple computer spreadsheet. At times I thought my head would explode or at the very least brain matter would start to ooze from my ears!

In 2001 I attended my first Hot Wheels convention – the Wild Weekend of Hot Wheels 2 in Connecticut – and my mind was blown wide open!  There were so many people collecting what I did all together in the same place, with special events and best of all; the room to room trading!!!  That was something I had never experienced before. I was then completely hooked on conventions from that point forward.

While at WWHW2 I heard about larger convention that meets every year in California run buy a guy named Mike Strauss. I got some info while in CT and hurriedly sent in my application to the event as soon as I got home. Unfortunately 9/11 happened that September, and I thought I may never be able to go to this Hot Wheels Mecca I had begun to believe in. Fortunately, the restrictions were lifted and off I flew to Irvine California, all by myself; intimidated, but ready to learn!  During the convention I was lucky enough to meet my buddy Mike from NH – someone who is still one of my best friends in the Hot Wheel and real world.

Mike had been going to Strauss conventions since 1998 and knew all the in, outs, and quirks associated with them. We became fast friends and my feet were set upon the path of convention knowledge. Needless to say, the rest is history for I have attended every east and west coast Strauss event since Irvine 2001 (save for Dallas 2004 when my son had just been born). After Irvine 2001 I attended the Wild Weekend of Hot wheels 3 in 2002 where I got to know another best friend of mine, Bryan from NC. I have also attended the Wicked Weekend of Hot Wheels 1 and 2, the annual Macungie PA outdoor toy event, as well as more recently introduced conventions like Summer Smash in Rhode Island, the Mexico City Hot Wheelers convention, and the DiecastSpace.com Super Convention in Las Vegas and Atlanta.

When I was still a completist, conventions were all about “the hunt” for everything I didn’t have.  But since having divested myself of over 3000+ pieces of Matchbox and over 1000+ pieces of Johnny Lightning I have been able to enjoy collecting even more. I no longer need to have every mainline Hot Wheels. I now prefer nice redlines or special limited cars like convention and toy fair pieces. I also have grown very fond of collecting discontinued “orphan makes.” Those include the cars I had as a kid like Playart, Zylmex, and Corgi Junior, as well as makes with limited availability in the U.S. like Tomica, Majorette, and Siku. Likewise, convention-going has changed from hunting for everything I can get my hands on, to meeting up with old and new friends and talking about the state of collecting, about other collectors who have come and gone or just sitting around eating, drinking and making each other laugh!

Many things affect the way we collect. The economy, die-cast companies’ fortunes and product decisions, to the size of our own wallets change the way we collect; and that’s not a bad thing. Any changes should be accepted and embraced if you want to keep on doing and collecting whatever you love.

So have I changed as collector? That answer would have to be a resounding YES!  I’m glad I have changed, evolved, backed off or whatever you want to call it. Its made me a happier collector and a more grateful one at that.

How have/haven’t you changed as collector since you started out in this great hobby? Let’s hear you story via the comments section below.

Wave 9

• -#5 Jaguar XK 120SE (New Model – Shown)
• -#6 ‘68 Citroen DS
• -#21 Audi R8
• -#42 GMC School Bus (New Model – Shown)
• -#44 Street Sweeper (New Model – Shown)
• -#91 MBX Motor Home

Wave 10

• -#9 ‘61 Jaguar E‑Type Coupe
• -#14 TVR Tuscan S
• -#36 Audi RS6 Avant
• -#40 Lincoln Navigator,
• -#43 Ice Cream Cruiser (New Model – Shown)
• -#57 Pierce Fire Engine,
• -#58 Chevy Impala,
• -#65 International CXT
• -#70 Mercedes‑Benz Unimog U300

VARIATIONS

• - #26 ‘08 Honda Civic Type R in white instead of metallic silver .
  - #29 Dodge Magnum in metallic dark grey instead of metallic dark red.
  - #55 ‘08 Ford E‑350 Ambulance in metallic orange with white15box with "Primary Response — Ambulance Service" tampo instead of red with maroon box with "Ambu Medic Emergency Medical Transportation" tampo (Shown)
• - #89 ‘68 Toyota Land Cruiser in light blue instead of dark yellow (Shown)
• - #60 with package name Ladder Truck in yellow‑orange instead of red.
• - #74 Plow Master 6000 in metallic silver with dark blue bed instead of green with black bed.
  - #79 MBX 4×4 in metallic chrome blue instead of metallic brown.
  - #01 ‘71 Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser in metallic light greenish gold instead of metallic light green (Shown)
• - #21 Audi R8 in plain black or metallic black.

I heard that some places already have the last wave for the year. Here is a sneak peak of the New models; Cadillac Ambulance and MBX Mixer. They will be part of the last wave of this year.

* – Please note that this list was compiled based on information gathered by collectors from online research and personal finds at retail locations. The ability to find select pieces will vary based on geographic location and the frequency that your local retailer refreshes their stock.

The "In the Stores" column is brought to you courtesy of the Connecticut Valley Diecast Club.

Wave #6 for 2009 included 6 models:

• - #2 ‘64 Austin Mini Cooper S, (new casting)
• - #30 Volkswagen Golf V GTI,
• - #64 Ground Breaker,
• - #72 Daf XF95 Super Space Cab,
• - #83 ‘97 Land Rover Defender 110,
• - #89 ‘68 Toyota Land Cruiser. (new casting).

Wave #7 for 2009 included 11 models:

• - #13 Mercedes‑Benz SLR McLaren, (new casting)
• - #20 Porsche 911 GT3,
• - #23 Corvette ZR1,
• - #24 Morgan Aeromax,
• - #26 ‘08 Honda Civic Type R,
• - #29 Dodge Magnum, revised ( revised casting, mounted surfboards)
• - #51 ‘06 Crown Victoria Taxi, (revised casting, taxi sign)
• - #60 ‘06 Fire Engine,
• - #71 Tractor,
• - #74 Plow Master 6000,

Wave #8 for 2009 included 10 models:

• - #1 ‘71 Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser, (new casting)
• - #11 ‘70 El Camino,
• - #18 Ford GT,
• - #25 ‘08 Toyota Prius, (new casting)
• - #52 Routemaster Bus,
• - #55 ‘08 Ford E‑350 Ambulance, (new casting)
• - #75 Quick Sander, (new casting)
• - #82 Volkswagen 4X4,
• - #97 Honda Ridgeline,
• - #99 Hummer H3.

* – Please note that this list was compiled based on information gathered by collectors from online research and personal finds at retail locations. The ability to find select pieces will vary based on geographic location and the frequency that your local retailer refreshes their stock.

The "In the Stores" column is brought to you courtesy of the Connecticut Valley Diecast Club.

Essentially, a laser wheel Datsun by Matchbox has been undefeated for almost a year now and the club has opened the challenge to collectors worldwide. Cars have been sent in from many locations around the globe, but the Datsun has steadily remained the champ. This month’s challenge was captured on video.

Will the Datsun finally meet its match…? Watch the video and find out!

Here is a sampling of pictures to wet your appetite!

[via mboxcommunity.com]

Fred Bloods from 1 Stop Diecast recently posted a complete list on JoesDiecastShack.com of all 50 castings along with pictures of a few.

Attendees of the 2008 Hot Wheels Convention in California where treated to an early look at the line during a special presentation. Mark from RaceGrooves.com captured a short clip of it which you can see here:

Matchbox collectors will compare Connect Cars to the license plate themed set from a few years back. Releases like this are truly geared towards the “completist” collector, and it should be interesting to see if all 50 castings are released in even quantities across the country. In addition, it should be interesting to see if any variations appear to extend the collectibility beyond the fifty.

These casts will begin to arrive in stores before the end of this month (December 2008). Multi-packs of three cars will also be released. All 50 cars will be available by the end of summer 2009.

What do you think of this new series? Is it a winner or just another re-hash of an old idea? Share your thoughts via the comment form below.

Dr. Gillogly has held many distinguished positions throughout his career. As a cadet at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Gillogly was captain and quarterback of the Army football team. During his military career, he received many service commendations as chief of orthopedics at an evacuation hospital during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. After ending his military career in the Army Medical Corps as a lieutenant colonel, he turned his sites to the field of sports medicine. His specialization in that field led him to become the head physician for the Atlanta Thrashers NHL hockey team and the Atlanta Falcons NFL football team.

On top of all these amazing accomplishments, Dr. Gillogly is now drawing attention to the personal side of his life. As a life-long collector of Matchbox cars, he has managed to assemble of of the most complete collections known to the hobby. Now in his mid-50s, Gillogly has decided to sell the collection in Britain where he believes the toys will generate higher prices. The collection is now being sold by Vectis Auctions on September 16 and 17 in Middlesbrough, England. The lot is comprised of approximately 3,500 Matchbox cars and trucks that may top $1 million dollars!

Click on any of the images here to see the larger versions, and be sure to make the jump to the original thread for more photos and details about what is being sold in the auction!

[via joesdiecastshack.com]